What I want to DO with my kids before they grow up

I was recently asked what I wanted to DO with my kids before they grew up and a million ideas flooded my mind. I want to take them on tons of family vacations all over our great country. I want to have family movie nights with popcorn and fresh out of the oven brownies. I can’t wait to help them master a skill whether it be soccer or singing. I am even looking forward to the day when I get to sit down at the dining room table and do homework with them. What all of my ideas had in common was relationship building. I am so excited to spend time with them and get to know them as they grow into an adult with their own personalities, desires and beliefs.

As I pondered the question more I realized there is one thing that kind of trumps everything else. It is of eternal importance in my mind and something that will shape their worldview. I want to read the Bible with my kids. I want them to know the Word and the God who created the heavens and the Earth. I want them to know the history of Israel and why we celebrate Christmas. They should know the story of the crucifixion and that Easter is not just about fluffy bunnies and chocolate. I want them to understand why we break bread and drink wine (ok grape juice) on Sunday mornings. Our life is so wrapped up in our faith that a knowledge of the Bible would probably help them at least understand their mom and dad better.

A wise woman once told me that moms of little ones are God with skin on to their kids until they can know God themselves. No pressure right!? So as my kids mature I want to introduce them to my God. The God whose words gave me comfort when I was weary from another nightly feeding. The God whose patience and compassion was at my disposal so I didn’t scream at them when they disobeyed for the fifth time. But mostly the God whose love and forgiveness is the only reason I can love and forgive them on a daily basis.

So if there’s one thing I want to ensure I do with them it’s read the Bible. If there’s one thing I need to share with them it’s our faith.

Kate Wilkinson is a wife to an amazing man who loves to cook (yes she knows she’s lucky!) and is blessed to be a stay at home mom to her two very active boys, Little Man and Punkin. Come join her adventure to maintain sanity while she juggles VERY energetic boys, housework that never seems to end, and the occasional date night that isn’t thwarted by falling asleep in the movie theatre. When mommy brain allows Kate blogs at RetroModernMom.com about family, faith and the funny things in between. It may be hard living in LA but she’s a modern mom doing it the old-fashioned way.